Finding your perfect match - my top 4 Hunter Valley Wedding Celebrant recommendations
November 9th, 2025
My job is to capture authentic moments. I'm obsessed with the vibe of a wedding day... what it feels like to be there (and then what the photos will feel like!). And I've learned very quickly that the entire tone of a wedding is set in the first 20 minutes.
Who sets that tone? Your celebrant! The celebrant is the person who sets the foundation for the entire day. Fortunately, you don't have to fly anybody in because we are blessed with the best marriage officiants right here in the Hunter Valley!
They have to handle the legal bits, but they also bring the vibes! As a photographer, I’m watching everything. I see the behind-the-scenes moments, the nervous energy and the exact second that energy shifts from anxious to pure joy. That shift, that magic, is almost always led by an amazing celebrant.
A great celebrant creates a moment so full of energy, laughter and real emotion that, selfishly, it makes my job of capturing those moments an absolute dream. When your ceremony is electric, your photos and film are electric. It’s that simple.
Finding the right person is everything. To help you out, I’ve put together a list of four of the best celebrants I’ve been lucky enough to work with in the Hunter Valley—people who have genuinely impressed me and in one case, someone I hired for my own wedding.
Married by Dom - The Ultimate Hype-Woman (Who Married Me!)
Okay, so I might be a little biased on this one, but for a very good reason... Dom was the celebrant for my own wedding.
When you’re in the wedding industry, you see everyone. So when it came time for my wife and me to tie the knot, we knew exactly who we wanted. Dom is, without a doubt, the ultimate hype-woman.
Her energy is absolutely infectious. She is funny, she is bold and, let's just say it, because it's a huge part of her amazing vibe, she is fabulously and proudly gay.
She took the time to know us, she guided us through our vows and she set the most amazing party vibe that kicked off the rest of our day. I can’t recommend her enough.
Dom is perfect for the couple that wants their ceremony to feel like the true start of the celebration—a big, vibrant and unforgettable party.
Self described as "super gay", Dom is very LBQTI friendly championing efforts for
Sweet Basil Celebrant & Styling - For Chill Vibes and Seamless Styling
If your dream vibe is less big party-starter and more relaxed, warm and down-to-earth, then you need to meet Emily from Sweet Basil Celebrant & Styling.
Emily is just one of those genuinely lovely and soulful people. She brings a wonderful, calm energy to the day, making everything feel easy and stress-free. Her ceremonies are always so heartfelt, drawing everyone in to focus purely on the connection you two share.
But here's what makes her offering truly unique, and an amazing option for so many couples... Emily is also a professional stylist.
This is a total game-changer for streamlining your planning. She crafts your ceremony AND she can style it, too. This means your arbour, your signing table and your aisle details all work in perfect harmony with the story she is telling. You get one person and one vision for the whole ceremony.
As a photographer, this is incredible, it creates a truly immersive, beautiful and cohesive scene that is an absolute joy to capture.
Emily is perfect for the couple that wants a relaxed, heartfelt and beautifully styled ceremony, and loves the simplicity and incredible value of having their celebrant and stylist all in one.
CC Celebrant - For a Ceremony That’s Modern, Fun and Genuinely You
Introducing the wonderful Claire Considine, the heart and soul behind CC Celebrant.
Where do I even start with Claire? Every time you see her name on a run sheet, you know it's going to be a brilliant ceremony. Her superpower is her ability to make a ceremony feel incredibly personal, totally modern and just... fun.
She’s a storyteller at heart, and she has this amazing way of weaving your personal story into the ceremony in a way that is authentic to you. She’s one of those people who is just so effortlessly warm and organised that you can’t help but feel relaxed in her presence. And, importantly (and just like me), she is a very proud LGBTQI+ ally, dedicated to making every single couple feel celebrated, safe and seen.
Claire is perfect for the couple that wants their ceremony to be packed with laughter, happy tears and heartfelt moments that feel 100% authentic to who they are.
Married by Case - For Bright Bubbly Vibes and a Calm, Steady Hand
Let's add the wonderful Casey from Married by Case to this must-have list.
Casey is just one of those people who is pure positive energy. She’s bright, she’s bubbly and she has this incredible talent for making a ceremony feel full of smiles and just... easy.
What I appreciate from a photographer's perspective is how she mixes that fun energy with a truly calm and steady hand. She knows exactly how to keep you both present and in the moment, handling all the legal bits and logistics so you can just focus on each other. There's no stress, just pure good vibes.
Plus, as a visual person, I love that she's super conscious of your aesthetic, she’s a total pro at blending in (or standing out, if you want!) and making sure the whole scene looks perfect.
Casey is perfect for the couple who wants a ceremony that feels bright, happy and personal, led by someone who is both your hype-woman and your calming influence.
So, Who Will You Choose?
Your celebrant is the person who will stand with you in one of the biggest moments of your life. Whether you click with Claire’s modern fun, Dom’s infectious energy, Casey's bubbly vibes or Emily’s heartfelt romance, you truly can’t go wrong with any of these incredible Hunter Valley celebrants.
